European bison | mammal | Britannica.com European bison THIS IS A DIRECTORY PAGE. Britannica does not currently have an article on this topic. Alternative Titles: Bison bonasus, wisent Wisent (Bison bonasus). A small group of European bison (Bison bonasus) grazing near the mountains. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. European bison (Bison bonasus), also called wisent, in Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve, Russia. © joppo/Fotolia University College Cork, Ireland (A Britannica Publishing Partner ) Learn about this topic in these articles: in Belovezhskaya Forest ...than 6 feet [2 metres]) and fauna (including elk, deer, lynx, and wild boar) from both western and eastern Europe. Hunted into extinction in the wild after World War I, the European bison, or wisent, was reintroduced to the Belovezhskaya with zoo-bred animals. The forest remains the European bison’s most notable home, though the animals are now also found again in other parts of Europe,...

in bison The European bison, or wisent, differs from the American bison in several respects. It lives in woodlands and is slightly larger and longer-legged than the American bison but is less heavily built. The European bison’s range originally extended eastward across Europe to the Volga River and the Caucasus Mountains. It became extinct in the wild after World War I, but herds built from zoo-bred... in Belarus: Plant and animal life ...both sides of the frontier. The rich forest vegetation that once covered much of Europe survives here, dominated by trees that have grown to exceptional heights. The forest is the major home of the European bison, or wisent, which had become extinct in the wild following World War I but was reintroduced through captive breeding. Elk, deer, and boars also are found there and in other forests of... ADW: Bison bonasus: INFORMATION References Geographic Range Two isolated populations of European bison (Bison bonasus), also known as wisent or European wood bison, occur in the Bialowieza forest. Since World War II, populations have been divided by international borders.

European bison herds, scattered across Central and Eastern Europe, represent two genetic lines: the lowland line (Poland, Belarus, and Lithuania) and the lowland-Caucasian line (southern Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Slovakia). Historically European bison were found in all lowlands of Europe extending from the Pyrenees to Southern Sweden and the Caucasus. All wild populations of European bison went extinct due to overhunting and habitat loss. Captive bison were bred and reintroduced and have since increased to approximately 3000 animals, 1500 of which occur in about 30 free ranging herds. ( Krasinska, et al., 2000 ; Kuemmerle, et al., 2011 ) Biogeographic Regions native Habitat European Bison are commonly found in broad-leaved or mixed forests in a mosaic-type landscape. Deciduous forest types tend to be the most favorable. All European bison populations inhabit ranges that include open areas, such as mown meadows, deforested glades covered with grass, clear cuts, and young plantations up to ten years old.

Lowland forests tend to be dominated by oak and mixed oak-pine forests. In some sites, fir and beech stands with a considerable mixture of spruce dominate bison habitat. In all bison ranges, damages to agricultural crops have been reported to reveal the presence of herds in agricultural-dominated landscapes ( Kuemmerle, et al., 2010 ; Kuemmerle, et al., 2011 ; NA, 2012 ) Habitat Regions agricultural Physical Description European bison are the largest native herbivores in Europe. Their appearance is very similar to North American bison although they are smaller in stature and have a longer mane on the forehead and beneath the neck. The coat is also less shaggy than American bison and varies in color from golden brown to dark brown. European bison reach a length of about 2.9 meters and a height of about 1.8 to 1.95 meters. They typically weigh from 800 to 1,000 kg. The hump formed by spinal processes of the thoracic vertebrae surrounded by powerful muscles is more developed in males than female bison.

Sexual dimorphism becomes pronounced at age three and extends throughout life. ( NA, 2012 ) Other Physical Features 9.51 ft Reproduction In the pre-rutting period (July through October), reproductively active bulls are rarely present in the group. During this period, sexually active bulls display limited sexual behavior such as sniffing external sexual organs of cows and flehmen. Starting in July, reproductively active bulls join mixed herds with cows. Smaller groups are typically made up of 10 to 12 individuals typically including only one adult bull more than six years of age (sexually mature) and 1 to 3 bulls that do not take part in reproduction. In large groups there may be more than one bull, which intensifies sexual behavior of bulls in the rutting period. If a group is approached by another sexually mature bull during the rutting period, the dominant bull may fight. In the presence of a cow in rut, the dominant bull will approach her and isolate her from the group accompanying her while hardly eating and resting. This is known as a tending bond. The bull will accompany the cow until copulation occurs.

( Krasinski and Raczynski, 1967 ) Mating System polygynous The rutting season in free-range European bison populations occurs July through October. The gestation period typically lasts 254 to 277 days (264 days on average). European bison give birth to one calf at a time, twins are rarely observed in populations on reserves. The calf stands 22 to 45 minutes following birth and suckling usually begins within the first hour. In free-ranging populations, cows leave the herd for the period of parturition and return with the calf a few days after birth. The calving period usually occurs from May through July. Bulls found on reserves reach sexual maturity in the second year of their life while bulls on free-ranging population tend to reach sexual maturity in the third year of life. Young bulls ranging from 4 to 6 years old that are sexually mature do not take part in reproduction for behavioral reasons. The breeding period in bulls is short and usually lasts form the 6th to the 12th year of life. Cows usually reach sexual maturity in the 3rd year of life giving birth to their 1st calf the 4th year.

Females can give birth until the end of life although the upper age of birth for cows is about 15 years (18 to 20 years). Sexual dimorphism in European bison develops gradually during the postnatal period, becomes pronounced at the age of 3 and is maintained until death. Physical development ends at 5 years in cows and 6 years in bulls. ( Cabon-Raczynski, et al., 1987 ; Krasinski and Raczynski, 1967 ; Pucek, et al., 2003 ) Key Reproductive Features AnAge European bison cows leave the herd for a few days to give birth. Following birth, the mother will carefully lick the calf while it slowly begins to stand and walk. In the first few days of life, calves typically spend most of their time lying down while their mothers are feeding with the group. At one month of age, calves are able to move efficiently and will forage near their mothers. The youngest calves stick close to their mothers while the older calves spend time in the middle of the group. Suckling occurs on the signal of the cow who will frequently utter characteristic sounds to alert the calf.

If the cow has no new offspring in the 2nd year, calves continue to suckle. When the cow comes into rut again she will avoid suckling during the rutting period and stop milking, losing interest in her calf. The calf may also be chased away by the tending bull. ( Cabon-Raczynski, et al., 1987 ) Parental Investment 20 to 28 years Behavior Daily activity of European bison is typical of ruminants with phases of foraging, alternating with resting and rumination. During the summer, bison spend 60% of their daily activity on feeding, 30% on resting, and the remaining 10% on roaming without feeding. In the winter, European bison are typically supplemented with hay and spend 30% of their activity feeding and 60% roaming. Herds typically include mixed groups containing cows, young aged 2 to 3, calves, and adult bulls as well as bull groups. The size of mixed groups is environment-dependent and on average consists of 8 to 13 animals. Sometimes European bison foraging in open areas form larger groups of 23 individuals.

Bull groups are always small usually composing of 2 animals on average while greater than half of the bulls lead a solitary life. Groups of European bison are not family units and the size and structure of mixed groups change because of seasonal or behavioral reasons (calving, joining bulls in the rutting period). Young bulls move between groups most frequently. Movement across habitats is correlated with feeding activity and food supply. In winter, the majority of bison gather around feeding sites and form large mixed aggregations. ( Pucek, et al., 2003 ) Key Behaviors dominance hierarchies Home Range The home range size of bulls is correlated with their age. Bulls that are 5 to 6 years old have an average home range of 44 square kilometers, while older bulls (over 6 years) have a home range of 84.3 square kilometers. Bulls living in forests have the largest home ranges at 136.5 to 151.6 square kilometers. The maximum home range size of cows is approximately 100 square kilometers. Winter home ranges of bulls at 10.7 square kilometers are larger than that of cows at 7.9 square kilometers.

Winter range sizes are correlated with snow cover and winter temperature. European bison ranges are not defended and commonly overlap. ( Pucek, et al., 2003 ) Communication and Perception European bison are social animals. They are found in mixed groups and bull groups. Groups of European bison are not family units, the size and structure of mixed groups changes for seasonal and behavioral reasons. Groups meet frequently, combine, and then split, exchanging some individuals. ( NA, 2012 ) Communication Channels chemical Food Habits In winters of continuous snow cover, European bison are supplemented hay offered in racks. During this time, their basic food consists of 90.4% grasses, sedges and herbs, with 9.5% trees and shrubs as supplementary food. In the spring the bison eat 88.2% grasses, sedges, and herbs and 11.2% trees and shrubs. In the summer their diet consists of grasses, sedges, and herbs and 13% trees and shrubs. In Autumn, 93.2% grasses, sedges and herbs and 6.7% trees and shrubs make up their diet.

Mosses, horsetails, fens and fungi combined account for 0.1 to 0.7% of the rumen capacity, depending on the season. In some conditions, trees are preferred and when supplementary hay is provided, the bison continue to eat twigs and bark. In combination, European bison feed principally on grasses, sedges, and herbs (about 90% of their diet) and supplement it with tree food (about 10% of their diet). ( Gebczynska, et al., 1991 ) Primary Diet lichens Predation European bison have no natural predators. The main causes of mortality include disease and injuries (21% each) as well as senescence and poaching which are each 7% on average. ( Mysterud, et al., 2007 ; Pucek, et al., 2003 ) Ecosystem Roles Supplementary feeding is used in the management of European Bison in order to prevent environmental damage, particularly damage to commercial and native forests. Foresters are largely convinced that these bison have a destructive impact on tree stands. Bison however are physiologically adapted to grazing rather than browsing.

Foraging by large herbivores like the European bison can regulate both the recruitment and composition of tree stands in temperate forests. In untouched forests, an abundance of ungulates can result in a greater density of forest regeneration and well as an increase in biodiversity. European bison are important dispersal agents of seeds in forest ecosystems; around 178 vascular plant species are dispersed by bison. Bison can also be responsible for the spread of invasive species in forests most likely consumed through supplemental feeding. ( Jaroszewicz, et al., 2009 ; Kowalczyk, et al., 2011 ) Ecosystem Impact keystone species Economic Importance for Humans: Positive Ecotourism can be used to create additional opportunities for long-term local profits especially in areas with high crop depredation by the European bison. Around 140,000 visitors come to the Bialowieza forest each year to see the bison which is becoming a driver of local development. Although foresters are convinced that bison may damage important commercial tree stands, bison mainly impact tree species of lower economic value, making their impact insignificant in the forest.

The species of trees consumed by bison are very different than the species used in timber exploitation. ( Hoffman-Kaminska and Kowalczyk, 2012 ; Kowalczyk, et al., 2011 ) Positive Impacts ecotourism Economic Importance for Humans: Negative In many parts of the world, large wild herbivores can have a major impact on the environment and contribute to many wildlife-human conflicts. Large ungulates, such as European bison, often encounter conflicts with domestic animals over space and food and can cause crop depredation as well as the transmission of diseases. With urbanization, habitat fragmentation, and habitat in proximity to human settlements and farms, it is difficult for large ungulates of the world to be managed for human-wildlife conflict. About 70% of European bison that were reintroduced to forest habitat have expanded into open oftentimes agriculture habitat. Supplementary feeding and culling of the herd is used by managers to keep bison in forest habitat and minimize damage to agriculture and tree stands.

In 2010, just over 90,000 Euros were paid to farmers in compensation for crop damage by bison, and that number continues to rise each year. Despite efforts to compensate farmers, the reintroduction of bison and their continued presence is not fully accepted by local communities. As European bison continue to expand, human-bison conflict is expected to increase in the future. In countries such as Belarus, Russia and Ukraine where bison crop depredation exists and compensation is not offered to farmers, there is general low acceptance of the European bison and sometimes a decline in its population due to uncontrolled hunting and poaching. ( Hoffman-Kaminska and Kowalczyk, 2012 ) Negative Impacts crop pest Conservation Status There are two genetic lines of European bison, the lowland line (B. b. bonasus) and the lowland-Caucasian line (B. b. caucasicus and B. b. bonasus). The lowland line is listed as Vulnerable D1 under the IUCN Red list and is currently increasing. The lowland-Caucasian line is listed as Endangered C1+2a.

All subpopulations of this line have fewer than 250 individuals. European bison are an excellent example of the way in which a species can be brought to the brink of extinction in a short period and then saved through great efforts. Threats to European bison include habitat fragmentation due to agricultural activity, logging, and unlimited hunting and poaching. The over-population of deer species and the reduction of natural food resources for herbivores is likely the cause of some population declines at the beginning of the 19th century. Inbreeding depression, disease, hybridization, and poaching continue to threaten reintroduced herds. After passing through a genetic bottleneck with just 12 founder individuals of the current population, the gene pool of current bison populations is very limited and they are highly inbred. The negative effects of their genetics include a lowered reproduction rate, a harmful effect on skeleton growth, and a lowered immune resistance against disease and pathogens. Hybridization with American bison has occurred in herds in the Caucasus Mountains, especially in close proximity to reintroduced pure lowland-Caucasian line bison herds. Fear of hybridization between the two herds continues.

The failure of enforcing conservation laws and a general dislike of the reintroduced bison because of crop depredation has contributed to an increase in poaching as well. Conservation measures include the continuance of the captive breeding program in order to maintain genetic variability, establishing a gene resource bank, continued reintroductions with a target of 3,000 free ranging animals in order to maintain genetic diversity, the linkage of isolated populations, the regulation of populations by culling when necessary, and the implementation of stricter regulations to control poaching. ( Olech, 2008 ) young are relatively well-developed when born References Cabon-Raczynski, K., Z. Krasinski, J. Wojcik. 1987. Rhythm of daily activity and behavior of European bison in the Bialowieza Forest in the period without snow cover. Acta Theriologica, 22: 335-372. Gebczynska, Z., M. Gebczynska, E. Martynowicz. 1991. Food eaten by the free-living European bison in Białowieża Forest.

Acta Theriologica, 36.3-4: 307-313. Hoffman-Kaminska, E., R. Kowalczyk. 2012. Farm Crops Depredation by European Bison (Bison Bonasus) in the Vicinity of Forest Habitats in Northeastern Poland. Environmental Management, 50.4: 530-541. Jaroszewicz, B., E. Piroznikow, R. Sagehom. 2009. Endozoochory by European Bison (Bison bonasus) in Białowieża Primeval Forest Across a Management Gradient. Forest Ecology and managment, 258.1: 11-17. Kowalczyk, R., P. Taberlet, E. Coissac, A. Valentini, C. Miquel, T. Kaminski, J. Wojcik. 2011. Influence of Management Practices on Large Herbivore diet—Case of European Bison in Białowieża Primeval Forest (Poland).

Forest Ecology and managment, 261.4: 821-828. Krasinska, M., Z. Krasinski, A. Bunevich. 2000. Factors affecting the variab ility in home range size and distribu tion in Europ ean bison in the Polish and Belar ussian parts of the B ia ³ owie ¿ a Forest. Acta Theriologica, 45.3: 321-334. Krasinski, Z., J. Raczynski. 1967. The reproduction biology of European bison living in reserves and in freedom. Acta Theriologica, 12: 407-444. Kuemmerle, T., T. Hickler, J. Olofsson, S. Guy, V. Radeloff. 2012. Reconstructing range dynamics and range fragmentation of European bison for the last 8000 years. Diversity and Distributions, 18: 47-59. Kuemmerle, T., K. Perzanowski, O.

Chaskovskyy, . Ostapowicz, L. Halada, A. Bashta, I. Kruhlov, P. Hostert, D. Waller, V. Radeloff. 2010. European Bison habitat in the Carpathian Mountains. Biological Conservation, 143: 908-916. Kuemmerle, T., R. Volker, K. Perzanowski, P. Kozlo, T. Sipko, P. khoyetskyy, A. Bashta, E. Chikurova, I. Parnikoza, L. Baskin, P. Angelstam, D. Waller. 2011. Predicting potential European bison habitat across its former range. Ecological Applications, 21.3: 830-843. Mysterud, A., K. Barton, B. Jedrzejewska, Z. Krasinski, M. Niedziałkowska, J. Kamler, N. Yoccoz, N. Stenseth. 2007.

Population Ecology and Conservation of Endangered Megafauna: The Case of European Bison in Białowieża Primeval Forest, Poland. Animal Conservation, 10.1: 77-87. NA, 2012. "About European Bison" (On-line). European Bison Conservation Center. Accessed March 17, 2013 at . Olech, W. 2008. "Bison Bonasus (European Bison)" (On-line). IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species. Accessed March 17, 2013 at . Pucek, Z., I. Belousova, Z. Krasinski, M. Krasinska, W. Olech. 2003. European bison (Bison bonasus) Current State of the species and an action plan for its conservation. Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, 20: 28-29.

The European Bison - Coming Back From The Brink Of Extinction - pictures and facts The European Bison - Coming Back From The Brink Of Extinction Animals / Mammals / Artiodactyla (220) / Bovidae (137) / Bovinae (24) / Bison (2) Genus Bison (137 animals) The European Bison (Bison bonasus), also know as "wisent", looks very similar in appearance to its North American cousin, the Bison bison . It shares some of the same characteristics of its North American relative, such as a pronounced shoulder hump, short neck, and overall body thickness, except the European Bison is smaller in stature. You can tell the difference between them by the European Bison's longer mane of hair on its forehead and underneath the neck. Its coat is also less shaggy than the American Bison and varies in color from golden brown to dark brown. Both males and females have short horns that curve upwards and project outwards.

Typically, the European Bison is around 2.9 meters or 9 and 1/2 feet in length and 1.8 to 1.95 meters or 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 4 inches tall. It typically weighs anywhere from 800 to 1,000 kg or from 1763 pounds to a little over 2200 pounds. It also features a tail that is typically around 2 and a half feet long. For many years the European Bison was known to roam throughout the southeastern, central, and western regions of Europe. Unfortunately, due to advances in agriculture and becoming a sought after target for hunters, by the early 1900's this great beast was only able to be found in two protected areas , which were ancient forests in the former Soviet Union and Poland. By 1927 the only European Bisons that remained were all living in captivity in European Zoos. At that time there were only 54 of this species left in the entire world. The animal has since been reintroduced into the wild in forests located in the Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, and Russia.

The Bison bonasus is known to thrive in mixed forests where there are open spaces and undergrowth. The European Bison has been rated as a vulnerable species on the IUCN red list, with an estimated population of around 2000 and growing. Many of these current creatures, however, are not considered mature individuals, meaning they have not reached breeding age yet. Currently, the population size is increasing and due to the low mortality rate of the species some populations have even needed to be culled in order to manage them better. While these creatures may be found feeding on shoots and leaves, their most common food is grass. They also must drink every day, sometimes using their hooves to break ice so they can drink the water. European Bison are especially agile for their size, being able to clear a stream of up to 3 meters from a standing position. There were times when predators like wolves and bears were a threat to this creature, but the number one predator of European Bison was and always will be man.

Picture of the European bison by Henryk Kotowski, en:User:Kotoviski , licensed under GFDL The Wisent | ferrebeekeeper ferrebeekeeper Subscribe to feed The Wisent July 19, 2011 in History , Invaders , Mammals | Tags: animal , Białowieża , Bison , bonasus , captive , Caucasus , Europe's , European , extiction , Germany , hunted , largest , Poland , Polish , reintroduced , Russian , Wisent , Zoos Wisent (Bison bonasus) The magnificent American Bison (Bison bison) was very nearly exterminated by hunters, soldiers, and politicians, but the bison did not come nearly as close to extinction as its closest relative, the wisent (Bison bonasus). Wisents are the largest native land animal in Europe today; an average wisent measures 1.8 to 2.2 m (6 to 7 ft) tall, and weighs up to 1000 kg (more than a ton). Although similar to American bison, the wisent is slightly smaller with larger horns and a hairier tail.

Whereas bison graze grass, wisents browse the forest–and the two animals therefore have different postures and necks. Wisents once roamed Eurasia from England to far eastwards of the Volga River where they were hunted by Caspian Tigers and Asiatic Lions. The wisent herds also ranged north as far as northern Sweden and south to Italy. Cave painting of a Wisent (from Altamira, Spain, from the Palaeolithic Age ca. 21,000 BC to 13,000 BC) In prehistoric times, wisents were a mainstay of European megafauna and beautiful cave paintings (among the first known artistic achievements of humankind) often portray the mighty creatures, but, as humanity burgeoned in Europe, the wisent declined. Starting in Gaul in the 8th century, whole populations of the shaggy giants gradually disappeared. The creature vanished from northern Sweden in the 11th century, and then from England in the 12th. Tiny herds survived in the Ardennes forest and the Vosges Mountains until Frenchmen finished off these remnants in the 15th century.

A Wisent Hunt Depicted on a Hungarian Stamp The wisents’ best friends turned out to be the kings of Poland, devoted big game hunters who proclaimed a death sentence on anyone poaching the mighty ruminants within the kingdom. Sadly though, the Polish Crown suffered…setbacks in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Although the Russian tsars (who seized the Eastern forests of Poland) tried to keep the last herds of wisent alive, by the twentieth century, the animals survived only in zoos, the remote Caucasus, and in the primeval depths of Poland’s Białowieża Forest . The ancient trees of Białowieża (and the animals living under them) remained largely untouched until World War I, when the region was captured by Germans, who built a railroad and timber mills there. Within four years the remaining herd of 600 wisents was slaughtered. When the Germans left only 9 of the beasts remained and the last of this tiny herd was killed in 1919 (probably by Soviet poachers). The last wild wisent was slaughtered less than a decade later in the Western Caucasus, where a few hardy individuals had somehow managed to survive.

In the late twenties only about 50 wisents remained alive, all of which lived in various zoos. Fortunately an early pioneer of wildlife conservation stepped in to save the dying species. Heinz Heck, the director of the Munich Zoo, established the first studbook for non-domestic animals and organized a groundbreaking breeding program to bring the wisent back from the brink (Heck was a determined and far-sighted man who also tried to personally resurrect several species of extinct megafauna—but we’ll deal with that quixotic quest another time). Thanks to Heck’s ongoing efforts, captured populations of wisents started to grow and the animals were reintroduced into Białowieża in 1951. The reintroduced wisents burgeoned and the forest is now home to more than 800 European bison. Wisents have also been reintroduced to protected parks in Russia (including the western Caucasus) and herds can now be found in Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Spain. Germany and the Netherlands hope to reintroduce the animal in the near future—perhaps someday the wisent will find its way back to Scandinavia, France, and even Great Britain.

Wisent herd in Caucasian mountains (Photo by Sergej Trepet) Global Species : Bison bonasus (European bison; wisent) Bison bonasus (European bison; wisent) Contents Synonyms: Bos bonasus Wikipedia Abstract The European bison (Bison bonasus), also known as wisent (/ˈviːzənt/ or /ˈwiːzənt/) or the European wood bison, is a Eurasian species of bison. It is one of two extant species of bison, alongside the American bison. There have been three subspecies in the past, but only one survives today (see infobox).European bison were hunted to extinction in the wild in the early 20th century, with the last wild animals of the B. b.

View Wikipedia Record: Bison bonasus Infraspecies Uniqueness & Vulnerability Scale: Similiar & Secure (0) 41 Berezinskiy Zapovednik State Nature Reserve Ia Bryansk Forest State Nature Reserve 30112 Kaluzhskie Zaseki State Nature Reserve 45796 Europe & Northern Asia (excluding China); External References Photos Citations Attributes / relations provided by ♦ 1de Magalhaes, J. P., and Costa, J. (2009) A database of vertebrate longevity records and their relation to other life-history traits. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 22(8):1770-1774 ♦ 2Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2006. The Animal Diversity Web (online).

Accessed February 01, 2010 at animaldiversity.org ♦ 3 Food eaten by the free-living European bison in Białowieża Forest , Zofia GĘBCZYŃSKA, Marek GĘBCZYŃSKI and Ewa MARTYNOWICZ, Acta Theriologica 36 (3-4), 307-313, 1991. ♦ 4Gibson, D. I., Bray, R. A., & Harris, E. A. (Compilers) (2005). Host-Parasite Database of the Natural History Museum, London ♦ 5Nunn, C. L., and S. Altizer. 2005. The Global Mammal Parasite Database : An Online Resource for Infectious Disease Records in Wild Primates. Evolutionary Anthroplogy 14:1-2. European bison, Wisent European bison, Wisent Citation: Syst. Nat., 10th ed., 1:71. Type locality: Bialowieza Forest, Poland.

The taxonomic record (above) is taken from Wilson and Reeder (1993). Some authors consider Bison bison and B. bonasus to be conspecific, grouping the two into a single species (Nowak, 1991). The taxonomic status of the genus Bison is also disputed, with some authorities placing it as a subgenus of Bos (Nowak, 1991). Invalid synonyms for Bison bonasus include B. arbustotundrarum, B. caucasicus, B. europaeus, B. hungarorum, B. nostras, and B. urus (Wilson and Reeder, 1993). Click on the pictures above for a larger view of the photographs General Characteristics Body Length: 290 cm / 9.6 ft. Shoulder Height: 180-195 cm / 6-6.5 ft. Tail Length: 80 cm / 2.6 ft. Weight: 800-1000 kg / 1760-2200 lb. The coat is dense and dark brown to golden brown in colour.

The neck is short and thick, topped by a shoulder hump. The thickness of the neck is intensified by longer hair which forms a short mane on the underside. The hindquarters are somewhat larger than the American bison, and the head is carried relatively high. The broad, short skull has a curly mop of hair on the forehead and a short beard on the chin. The horns, found in both sexes, project outwards and then curve upwards and slightly forwards. Ontogeny and Reproduction Young per Birth: 1, rarely 2. Weaning: At 6-8 months. Sexual Maturity: Females at 2 years, males by 8 years. Life span: Up to 27 years. The breeding season is in August and September. Ecology and Behavior The wisent is active throughout the day, though the distribution of activity is affected by food supply. In the summer, feeding occurs primarily in the morning and evening, and rarely at night. In the winter, two to five feeding sessions per day have been recorded, mostly in the morning and evening before midnight.

Over a 24 hour period, an average of 30% of the time is spent feeding, 60% resting, and 10% moving and/or playing. Although movements are generally slow, short gallops are rarely observed. Despite their size, wisent can jump across 3 m / 10 feet wide streams and 2 m / 6 foot tall fences from a standing position. The wisent is dependent on water, knocking holes in the ice in winter with their hooves to reach the liquid. Population densities are about 12 animals per 1,000 hectares in the Bialoweiza Forest in Poland, and 3-4 per 1,000 hectares in the Caucasus. Vocalizations other than short grunts or snorts are rare. Family group: Maternal groups of around 20 individuals, males are either solitary or in small groups. Diet: Grasses, leaves, bark, lichens, and mosses. Main Predators: Wolf, lynx (for young animals). Distribution Mixed deciduous forests in Bialowiesza (Poland) and Western Caucasus.

Countries: Reintroduced to Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Russian Federation, and Ukraine, and introduced to Kyrgyzstan (IUCN, 2002). Conservation Status The European bison is classified as endangered (Criteria: A2ce, C2a) by the IUCN (2002), but is not listed by CITES. Remarks Historically, the European bison's range encompassed almost all of Europe, including southern England, and Russia. However, hunting eradicated most populations, and the current range of the wisent is very restricted. Thankfully, captive breeding kept this species alive, and since 1980, 24 herds have been reintroduced into the wild. Wisent is from wisunt (German) a bison. Bison (Latin) a bison. Also bison (Greek) a species of wild ox, bison. Bonasus (Latin) a type of buffalo. Bisonte Europeo (IUCN, 2002) Literature Cited Buchholtz, C. 1990. Cattle. In Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals. Edited by S. P. Parker.

New York: McGraw-Hill. Volume 5, pp. 360-417. IUCN ( International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources). 2002. 2002 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available online at Nowak, R. M. [editor]. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World (Fifth Edition). Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder [editors]. 1993. Mammal Species of the World (Second Edition). Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press. Available online at Additional Resources Boitani, L., and S. Bartoli. 1982. Simon & Schuster's Guide to Mammals. New York: Fireside/Simon & Schuster, Inc. Entry 388. Burzyn'ska, B., W. Olech, and J. Topczewski. 1999. Phylogeny and genetic variation of the European bison (Bison bonasus) based on mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequences.

Acta Theriologica 44(3): 253-262. Cabon'-Raczyn'ska, K., M. Krasin'ska, Z. A. Krasin'ski, and J. M. Wojcik. 1987. Rhythm of daily activity and behavior of European bison in the Bialowieza Forest in the period without snow cover. Acta Theriologica 32(21): 335-372. Gebczyn'ska, Z., M. Gebczyn'ski, and E. Martynowicz. 1991. Food eaten by the free-living bison in Bialowieza Forest. Acta Theriologica 36(3-4): 307-313. Gill, J. 1992. Seasonal changes in activity of some enzymes in the European bison (Bison bonasus). Acta Theriologica 37(3): 291-300. Gill, J. 1992.

Seasonal changes in the white blood cell count and blood cell sedimentation rate in the European bison (Bison bonasus). Acta Theriologica 37(3): 279-290. Gill, J. 1993. Evidence for the need to protect European bison (Bison bonasus) living in modern environments. Proceedings of the International Union of Game Biologists Congress 21(2): 29-34. Gill, J. 1998. Do the abiotic environmental factors influence the reproduction rate in the free-ranging European bison in Bialowieza Primeval Forest? Acta Theriologica 43(4): 417-432. Hartl, G. B., and Z. Pucek. 1994. Genetic depletion in the European bison (Bison bonasus) and the significance of electrophoretic heterozygosity for conservation. Conservation Biology 8(1): 167-174. Heptner, V. G., A. A. Nasimovich, and A. G. Bannikov.

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Kobryn'czuk, F., and M. Krasin'ska. 1991. Shape of the mandible in European bison and domestic cattle hybrids. Acta Theriologica 36(1-2): 171-177. Krasin'ska, M., K. Cabon-Raczyn'ska, and Z. Krasin'ski. 1987. Strategy of habitat utilization by European bison in the Bialowieza Forest. Acta Theriologica 32(11): 147-202. Krasin'ska, M., and Z. Krasin'ski. 1995. Composition, group size, and spatial distribution of European bison bulls in Bialowieza Forest. Acta Theriologica 40(1): 1-21. Krasin'ska, M., Z. A. Krasin'ski, and A. N. Bunevich. 2000. Factors affecting the variability in home range size and distribution in European bison in the Polish and Belarussian parts of the Bialowieza Forest.

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Acta Theriologica 33(4): 47-56. Wisent From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Photo] A wisent (??ubr) in Białowie??a Forest. European wisent (??ubr) photographed in Białowie??a, Eastern Poland. (Lietuvi??: Girios simbolis - stumbras, ???Norsk (bokm??l)???: Visent - Białowie??askogens "varemerke"). Date 2005-02-28. Author Henryk Kotowski ( ). Copyright (C) Henryk Kotowski Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled " GNU Free Documentation License ". The Wisent or European Bison ( Bison bonasus ) is a bison species and the heaviest land animal in Europe.

A typical wisent is about 2.9 m (9.5 ft) long and 1.8???2 m (5.9???6.5 ft) tall, and weighs 300???920 kg (660???2000 lb). It is typically smaller than the related American bison (B. bison ), and has shorter hair on the neck, head, and forequarters, but longer tail and horns. Wisent s are forest-dwelling. They have few predators with only scattered reports from the 1800s of wolf and bear predation (besides humans). Wisent s were first scientifically described by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758. Some later descriptions treat the wisent as conspecific with the American bison . It is not to be confused with the aurochs . The species is now endangered. In the past they were commonly killed to produce hides and drinking horns, especially during the Middle Ages. Near-extinction About 2000 years ago wisent s lived in most of Europe - from Britain in the west to Siberia in the east, from Spain in the south to Sweden in the north.

Wisent s lived not only in the forests but also roamed the grasslands of Europe. In Western Europe, wisent were extinct by the 11th century except in the Ardennes, where they lasted into the 14th century. The last wisent in Transylvania died in 1790. In the east, wisent were legally the property of the Polish kings, Lithuanian grand dukes and Russian czars. King Sigismund the Old of Poland instituted the death penalty for poaching a wisent in the mid-1500s. Despite these and other measures, the wisent population continued to decline over the following four centuries. The last wild wisent in Poland was killed in 1919 and the last wild wisent in the world was killed by poachers 1927 in the Western Caucasus. By that year fewer than 50 remained, all in zoos. Wisent s were re-introduced successfully into the wild beginning in 1951. They are found living free-ranging in forest preserves like Western Caucasus in Russia and Białowie??a Forest in Poland and Belarus. Unfortunately, this forest is divided by a security fence separating Belarus from Poland.

The wisent on either side of this barrier are genet ically isolated from each other. Free-ranging herds are found in Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan and since 2006 in Moldova. There are plans to re-introduce two herds in northern Germany. Zoos in 30 countries also have quite a few animals. There were 3000 individuals as of 2000, all descended from only 12 individuals. Because of their limited genet ic pool, they are considered highly vulnerable to diseases like foot and mouth disease. Wisent s are now found in the 30km exclusion zone around Chernobyl. As with other animals, it seems that the benefits of removing people from the zone have far outweighed any harm from radiation. In 1996 the IUCN classified the wisent as endangered. More details Wisent have lived as long as 28 years in captivity although in the wild their lifespan is shorter. Productive breeding years are between 4 and 20 years old in females and only between 6 and 12 years old in males.

Wisent occupy home ranges of as much as 100 square kilometers and some herds are found to prefer meadows and open areas in forests. Wisent can cross-breed with American Bison . The products of a German interbreeding program were destroyed after World War II. This program was related to the impulse which created the Heck cattle . The cross-bred individuals created at other zoos were eliminated from breed books by the 1950s. A Russian back-breeding program resulted in a wild herd of hybrid animals which presently lives in the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve (550 individuals in 1999). There are also bison - wisent - cattle hybrids. In 1847 a herd of wisent - cattle hybrids named ??ubro?? was created by Leopold Walicki. The animal was to become a durable and cheap alternative to cattle . The experiment was continued by researchers from the Polish Academy of Sciences until the late 1980s. Although the program resulted in a quite successful animal that was both hardy and could be bred in marginal grazing lands, it was eventually discontinued. Currently the only surviving ??ubro??

herd consists of just a few animals in Białowie??a Forest, Poland. Three sub-species have been identified: Lowland wisent - Bison bonasus bonasus (Linnaeus, 1758) ??? (from Białowie??a Forest) Hungarian (Carpathian) wisent - Bison bonasus hungarorum - extinct Caucasus wisent - Bison bonasus caucasicus - extinct, although one individual, a bull named Kaukasus was one of the 12 founders of the modern herds The modern herds are managed as two separate lines - one consisting of only Bison bonasus bonasus (all descended from only 7 animals) and one consisting of all 12 ancestors including the one Bison bonasus caucasicus bull. Only a limited amount of inbreeding depression from the population bottleneck has been found, having a small effect on skeletal growth in cows and a small rise in calf mortality. Genet ic variability continues to shrink. From 5 initial bulls, all current wisent bulls have one of only two remaining Y chromosomes.

Trivia The wisent (or Zubr in Slavic languages) is the largest wild animal in Belarus, and it is a national symbol of Belarus today. A wisent (zimbru or bour in Romanian) head (sometimes identified with an aurochs ) featured on Moldavia's state symbols, as well as in the Romanian national court of arms, a depiction connected with the legend of the foundation of the Moldovan voievody. The first Romanian stamp called "Cap de Bour" issued in 1858 features a wisent 's in head. Zimbru is also the name of the biggest football club in Moldova Republic. ??ubr??wka Polish vodka is indirectly named after this animal (??ubr in Polish). Each bottle contains a stalk of " bison grass", which produces a slightly yellowish colour and a distinctive flavour.

Question: A wisent is one of the two living species of what animal?
Answer: BISON